Under the direction of Dr. Sylvia Broadbent, Ms. Adella Schroth will collect data for her doctoral thesis. Her research will focus on a tool type known as the "Pinto Point" which occurs widely in prehistoric sites in the Great Basin region of the United States. The Pinto Point was originally defined on the basis of excavations at the Stahl and Pinto Basin sites, both located in Eastern California. However, at neither site are absolute dates available. Ms Schroth will conduct further research at both and undertake limited excavations. The data recovered should clarify the stratigraphy and also provide samples of radiocarbon dating. In addition to analysis of the lithics recovered at Stahl and Pinto Basin, Ms Schroth will study similar points from other locations. The result will be a more detailed description of this type and better understanding of its chronological placement. Because the Great Basin has an environment which is both harsh and unpredictable, archaeologists have focussed on this area to study how humans at a sample technological level of development adapt to such difficult conditions. A major problem such researchers face is that most archaeological sites in the region consist of surface lithics. For this reason, they are difficult to date either by conventional methods such as radiocarbon or by geological context. In this region, however, tool types - especially spear and arrow points change over time and archaeologists have used tool typology as a dating technique. The Pinto Point. although not as extensively studied as one would like is often used in this way. The significance of Ms Schroth's research becomes clear in this context since successful completion of this research will allow more accurate dating of many Great Basin sites. The work will also assist in the training of an extremely promising young scientist.
